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Biomedical subjects

J C Huber

Publications and source records attributed to J C Huber.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[The neurotropic effect of progesterone].

Neurological diseases are frequently observed in perimenopausal women and can be characterised through their gender-specific occurrence. These observations raise the question, whether sexual steroids are also involved in neurologic diseases. Epidemiological data have shown, that in Austria in the year 1993 the prescription-rate of psychopharmaca, hypnotics, and analeptics for women between the age of 50 to 55 increased over 300% compared to other age-groups. In males of the same age an increase of the prescription-rate was not observed. Molecular research during the last ten years has found that sexual steroids may interact with the central nervous system via the GABA-receptor. These observations confirm the epidemiological data, that neurologic and psychological functions may be directly influenced by sexual steroids.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The significance of progesterone and gestagens in climacteric].

Progesterone is the first ovarian hormone to decrease with the onset of menopause. Its deficiency is mainly involved in metro-menorrhagias as well as edemas, body weight problems and psychovegetative symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy with progesterone or one of its derivatives should be perfectly adapted to the women's needs. It is necessary to offer each patient an individual dose. In order to choose the most suitable way of application, the metabolism for each individual should be carefully considered.

Climacteric↗
PubMed1996

Simultaneous expression of nitric oxide synthase and estrogen receptor in human breast cancer cell lines.

For various human tumor cell lines (neuroblastoma, cervix carcinoma) the presence of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) has been documented. Here, for the first time, we report about cNOS expression in 10 of 16 human breast cancer cell lines. cNOS expression correlates strongly with expression of estrogen receptor (ER). Competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (cRT-PCR) was used to detect cNOS and ER mRNA expression. Our findings suggest that estradiol could stimulate constitutive NO release in breast tissue, where it acts as a free radical.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Altered growth hormone (GH) secretion in women gaining weight during hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between GH response to GHRH-stimulation and changes in body weight in pre- and postmenopausal women before as well as after 4 and 20-22 weeks of oral HRT was tested. METHODS: 18 postmenopausal women (FSH > 30 mU/ml) were compared to 18 premenopausal women suffering from post-pill amenorrhoea (FSH < 10 mU/ml). Both patient-groups reported an anamnestic increase in body weight during former use of sex hormones. In addition 18 postmenopausal women without anamnestic weight change were studied. RESULTS: A significant reduction in GH response to GHRH stimulation was observed during the first month of HRT in both groups gaining weight. However, the body mass index of the patients reverted to pretherapeutic levels after 5 months of HRT. In all patients, a small but statistically significant increase in IGF-1 levels was registered during HRT. These changes in GH stimulation testing and IGF-1 levels were accompanied by distinct changes in body weight. No alterations in GHRH response were observed in those patients whose body weight did not increase. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that in predisposed women, HRT is associated with increments in body weight as well as with changes in the GH-IGF-1 axis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Serum 3 alpha-androstanediol-glucuronide is decreased in nonhirsute women with acne vulgaris.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if acne vulgaris in women has a different pattern of androgen activity than hirsutism at the pilosebaceous unit. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic for gynecological endocrinology at a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty women suffering from mild or moderate acne vulgaris compared with 38 controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum androgens DHEAS, androstendione, T, including 3 alpha-androstanediol-glucuronide (3 alpha-diolG), the metabolite of 5 alpha-reductase activity. RESULT(S): Serum 3 alpha-diolG was decreased in the acne groups depending on the grade of severity. No statistically significant differences were observed between the other androgens measured in acne patients and controls. CONCLUSION(S): In contrast to hirsutism, acne is influenced directly by T and not by its 5 alpha-reduced metabolites. In female acne patients, 5 alpha-reductase activity appears to be reduced, which is reflected in decreased serum levels of 3 alpha-diolG. Consequently, 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors are most likely not promising candidates for acne therapy; a postulation that, however, requires further clinical investigation.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1996

Effect of estrogen replacement therapy on natural killer cell activity in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of menopause and estradiol substitution on natural killer cell activity. METHODS: Natural killer cell activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity were measured in peripheral blood of 53 postmenopausal and 20 premenopausal women in an interval of 3 weeks. Postmenopausal patients were randomly assigned to receive either estradiol valerate (2 mg daily) orally (n = 18), estradiol (50 micrograms/24 h) transcutaneously (n = 18) or no substitution (n = 17), and the testing was repeated 3 weeks later. RESULTS: Natural killer cell activity but not antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in unsubstituted postmenopausal compared to premenopausal subjects. Natural killer cell activity decreased both in orally and transcutaneously estradiol-treated patients (mean [S.D.] before vs. after 3 weeks; oral: 60.8 [9.2]% vs. 52.8 [8.2]% P < 0.01; transcutaneous: 61.5 [10.6]% vs. 54.3 [9.1]% P < 0.01; no substitution: 60.6 [10.6]% vs. 59.3 [8.9]% P > 0.1), whereas antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity showed no changes. The addition of 0.1 to 10 ng/ml estradiol to peripheral blood mononuclear cells of untreated postmenopausal women in vitro had no influence upon natural killer cell activity. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women receiving no estrogen replacement exhibited an increased natural killer cell activity which decreased during estrogen substitution.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1996

Presence of endothelial calcium-dependent nitric oxide synthase in breast apocrine metaplasia.

Endothelial calcium-dependent nitric oxide (NO) synthase has been shown to be expressed in human malignant breast tumours, and its presence correlates with tumour grade. Moreover, NO, being synthesised in breast tumour cells, may increase tumour blood flow and promote angiogenesis. In view of these aspects, we have assessed the distribution of NO synthase within a series of benign breast tumours using a monoclonal antibody against human endothelial calcium-dependent NO synthase. Activity was predominantly localised in apocrine metaplastic cells of fibrocystic disease, as well as in endothelia throughout all tissue sections. Consistent with previous reports, no endothelial calcium-dependent NO synthase immunoreactivity was observed in poorly differentiated infiltrating duct carcinoma cells. In conclusion, expression of endothelial calcium-dependent NO synthase in human breast apocrine metaplasia may be of significance in view of the NO's vascular effects in benign breast disease.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1995

[Measuring skin thickness in perimenopausal women. Correlation with bone density and hormone parameters].

AIM: To evaluate the connection between alterations in skin-thickness and bone density in menopause. METHOD: In 231 perimenopausal women the skin thickness was measured with ultrasound and correlated with the results of bone densitometry and the hormonal parameters. RESULTS: The correlation between skin thickness and bone densitometry showed a statistical significance of p < 0.0001. Thus we could demonstrate that not only the bone but also the skin is a hormone-dependent organ which responds enormously to a decrease of C19 and C18 steroids. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound skin measurement is a very simple method which can be used for a more differentiated diagnosis and therapy in menopausal women.

Bone Density↗
PubMed1995

[Age and sex specific differences in bone density of 4,000-year-old individuals. Bone density measurement of early Bronze Age femurs from excavations in Unterhautzenthal, Lower Austria].

Bone density measurements of 14 individuals (early Bronze Age, 2200-1600 BC), analyzed by dual-energy absorptiometry, showed a distinct difference between women and men. In men, there was a high bone density (+17.9%-0.290 g/cm2 difference). In females, a constant decrease in bone density was found after the age of 20-25 years (from 1.2 g/cm2 at 20 years to 0.8 g/cm2 at 40 years of age). With caution, the results are comparable with those of the present time.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Hysterectomy increases the symptomatology of postmenopausal syndrome.

The purpose of our investigation was to verify whether or not women who have undergone hysterectomy react differently to the menopause compared with women who have not. The study was performed in a prospective documentation on 203 women, and the assessments of discomforts were provided by the patients themselves using questionnaires. For statistical purposes, the Mann-Whitney test and chi 2 test were used. In both groups of patients--with and without hysterectomy--a determination was made concerning the significance of differences in the degree of intensity of problems: breast tension (p < 0.05), muscle pains (p < 0.05), palpitations (p < 0.05) and dizziness (p < 0.01). Concerning the frequency of climacteric symptoms, a significant difference was noted for urogenital ailments. While only 29.6% of women who had not been operated on complained about discomfort caused by atrophy of the urogenital tract, the number of women with such discomfort who had had a hysterectomy was 42.6% (p < 0.01). In other words, women who underwent hysterectomy suffered more discomfort and showed frequent symptoms of urogenital atrophy.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1995

[Correlation of skinfold thickness with bone density and estradiol, FSH and prolactin level in a sample of 231 women].

Skin thickness was measured by means of ultrasound and correlated with the results of bone densitometry and hormonal parameters. Skin thickness and bone density were significantly correlated (p < 0.0001). These results indicated that not only bone, but also skin is a hormone-dependent organ, which responds to the menopausal decrease in sexual steroids. Hence, skin ultrasound, just like bone densitometry, can be useful implemented in the differential diagnostic procedure, as well as the therapy of the menopausal syndrome. Additionally, the estrogen-dependent postmenopausal decrease in collagen tissue can be assessed by ultrasound and a successful therapeutic outcome achieved by optimizing the dosage of estrogen substitution.

Bone Density↗
PubMed1994

[Drug information in hormone substitution drugs].

The package leaflets of hormone preparations used for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in hypoestrogenaemic women contain contraindications, which are taken from the package insert of oral contraceptives: Clots in the blood vessels (thrombotic disorders), high blood fats, severe diabetes, abnormal red blood cells, deterioration of inherited deafness and jaundice not explained by infections, disturbances of the liver function and of existing or treated hormone-dependent tumours of the breast or of the lining of the womb. Numerous epidemiologic, animal-experimental and also clinical studies proved that the cardiovascular risk, hepatic discomfort and the influence on the blood system of oestradiol 17-beta have to be evaluated completely differently compared to the ethinyloestradiol used in oral contraceptives; therefore, many of the listed contraindications must be reconsidered. In our review we try to emphasise this postulation by scrutinizing recent publications.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Absorption of orally supplied natural estrogens correlated with age and somatometric parameters.

The plasma levels of estradiol were studied in 20 postmenopausal women over a period of 8 h following the ingestion of a single dose of 2 mg estradiol valerate and 2 mg micronized estradiol. The determined plasma estradiol concentrations were correlated with somatometric characteristics and age. Twenty-six postcephalic body measurements, the body weight and six skin-fold thickness measurements were taken and the body mass index computed; estradiol serum concentration was measured before and after administration of micronized estradiol and estradiol valerate, respectively. It was shown that estradiol concentrations obtained after estradiol valerate and micronized estradiol ingestion were dependent on the patient's age as well as on the constitutional type. Additionally, we found that there were differences in the reachable estradiol plasma concentrations following the application of the two preparations. Our results justify the individual and differentiated estrogen replacement therapy of the postmenopausal woman.

Administration, Oral↗